A shortage of skilled workers risks undermining the Government’s flagship Warm Homes Plan and the economics benefits it promises to deliver, Energy UK has warned.
In January, the Government unveiled its £15 billion Warm Homes Plan to bring down energy bills, reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, and unlock £38 billion of total investment over the next four years.
But a new report from Energy UK, the trade body representing Britain’s energy industry, warns that a “serious” workforce shortfall could hold back the rollout of energy efficiency measures and low-carbon heating technologies that is essential to deliver the plan.
The workforce will need to grow rapidly over the next few years if the country is to meet ambitious targets for clean heat.
However, insufficient numbers of people are entering the sector to replace those approaching retirement in the crucial decades ahead.
The challenge is two-fold, according to the report. In the near-term, the expertise of the existing heating workforce must be harnessed, and they should be supported through high-quality retraining to allow them to pursue new career pathways into low-carbon heating. In the longer term, the sector hinges on attracting a new generation of talent to good, well-paid jobs in clean heat.
But the report warns that existing policies to support training and workforce development “tend to not match the scale of the need.”
A package of measures is needed to boost skills and training, including low-cost retraining loans, more work experience opportunities, improvements to the education system, and greater investment in colleges, training facilities and supply chain capabilities.
Rachel Cary, Head of Industrial Strategy at Energy UK, said:
“The Warm Homes Plan is a chance to bring down bills, strengthen our energy security, and create thousands of jobs across the UK, but it all rests on a skilled workforce to deliver it. Unless we act now, a skills shortage risks being a bottleneck to delivery.
“But this also a huge opportunity. More than a million young people are not in employment, education or training, but with the right support, the transition to clean energy can bring a diverse range of good, well-paid jobs while lowering bills and boosting growth.
“It’s important that those already working in traditional heating technologies are supported with the training they need, as well as attracting new entrants. Strong collaboration between industry and Government will be needed to remove the barriers to retraining, expand access to training and work experience, and provide clear routes into energy careers.”
The report contains case studies of people working in the clean heat sector, including Ciaran Connelly, who is a Quantity Surveying Degree Apprentice at Vital Energi. He said:
“One way I think the sector could improve is with education and its entry requirements into the sector. A lot of the technologies are niche, often requiring specialist knowledge, which I can understand might make it difficult to swap career to a role in the sector. The technologies we are working on are increasing in demand, but I don’t believe education of these technologies, is caught up to the increasing demand.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Energy UK report Clean Heat: Jobs and skills for the future is available now, containing case studies from members of the clean heat workforce.
Spokespeople are available, including Ciaran Connelly. For interview requests, including with those quoted in the report, please contact the Energy UK press team: press@energy-uk.org.uk
For more information on clean heating, including webinars and a series of reports, visit the Energy UK Clean Heat Hub.
About Energy UK
Energy UK is the trade association for the energy industry, representing companies investing billions of pounds to secure our country’s current and future energy needs.
From growing start-ups to major electricity generators, grid and infrastructure developers and energy suppliers, our members are driving change across power, heat, transport and flexibility.
We provide a collective voice for the sector working with governments, regulators, charities and other organisations to provide crucial insight that shapes policy, offers solutions and promotes best practice. Our broad view across the whole system supports evidence-based positions which are not tied to particular technologies, and are focused on delivering strategic benefits for people, businesses and the economy.
We champion initiatives such as our Vulnerability Commitment, which pushes suppliers to go beyond regulation to support customers with additional needs, and TIDE, the industry’s drive for greater inclusion and diversity. Through our Young Energy Professionals Forum, we support the development of future leaders. We are equally committed to our team and are proud to be recognised as a Platinum Investors in People employer.
